What began as a dinner-table conversation in Zimbabwe became a decades-long curiosity that culminated in a powerful exploration of Britain’s unwritten constitution. Here, Julian Francis Godolphin, author of On His Majesty’s Service, reflects on the early inspirations for the book, how Brexit reignited the debate around royal powers, and why the monarchy is far more than just a ceremonial relic.
What first sparked the idea for On His Majesty’s Service?
Growing up in Zimbabwe in the late ’70s and early ’80s, I remember Australian guests talking about the dismissal of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam in 1975. Some were for it, some against, but either way, people were talking about the role of the Queen in the political system. During my time studying law at Cambridge, my tutor John Hopkins highlighted the importance of the royal prerogative and explained how little understood it was. Then, finally, Brexit happened and that is when I decided to write this book. So many hidden aspects of our constitution came to light during that time that I thought it would be a good idea if I could explain clearly and precisely why all this matters so much.
Why do you think the monarchy is so often misunderstood as merely symbolic?
I highlight in my book that we have Walter Bagehot to thank for this, as he established the modern interpretation of the role. In his book The English Constitution, he accentuates the monarch’s social role as the embodiment of state and nation but downplays their governmental role, ascribing this to ministers instead. Successive administrations have found this a particularly useful argument for their time in government. For these reasons, Prime Ministers are all very happy to downplay the monarch’s political role.
Of all the King’s prerogative powers that you explore, which one do you find most intriguing?
That of royal assent. Royal assent to legislation has not been officially refused since the reign of Queen Anne and so there is a lot of discussion around whether the power to refuse assent still exists. Royal assent raises a question about the nature of the monarch and specifically whether the King is an ‘estate of the realm’, equal and separate to the House of Lords and Commons. Like so much else in British constitutional history, the answer is a fudge. Politicians have been able to ignore these questions through the mechanism of king’s consent, a process by which royal agreement to legislation is sought prior to its introduction. Objections are resolved before legislation is enacted, ensuring royal assent need never be withheld.
Has there ever been a moment when a monarch’s influence truly changed the course of history?
There are many occasions when the monarch has changed our history, but when it comes to our recent past, it is much harder to pinpoint these moments as so much happens behind the scenes. The beating heart of our constitutional settlement is the weekly audience between King and Prime Minister. No notes are kept and the nature of the discussion is never disclosed, but this is the point at which the monarch’s influence is brought to bear and where they have the most sway.
What do you hope readers new to constitutional history take from the book?
The sheer richness and complexity of the British constitution. Every aspect of our political system is rooted in the history of our country and flows from compromises and innovations made over hundreds of years. The system is ever evolving and so there is no fixed end point, but in order to understand where we are now, you need to examine where we have come from.
If you could have lunch with any three people mentioned in the book, who would they be and what would you ask them?
The first would be the late Queen Elizabeth II. To have a frank conversation with her about all she saw and was involved with would transform my understanding of the post-war world. Top of my list of questions would be ‘Who were your favourite Prime Minister and US President and why?’ and ‘What is it really like to be the monarch?’
The second would be George V. Given how eventful his reign was and how many constitutional challenges he overcame, I would love to hear from him how he balanced the role of national unifier with constitutional guardian.
Finally, Sir John Kerr. I would love to discuss how he handled his role in the dismissal of Gough Whitlam in 1975.
On His Majesty’s Service: How the King Preserves the British Constitution by Julian Francis Godolphin is available now.
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